Kobo Clara BW | eReader | 6” Glare-Free Touchscreen with ComfortLight PRO | Dark Mode Option | Audiobooks | Waterproof | 16GB of Storage | Black

I have used Kindle readers for quite some time, and decided to try something different since the reviews were so good, and I'm not disappointed. This reader is far snappier than any of the Kindle's I've had over the years. Compared to my current Kindle (2020 Sage Paperwhite) this is miles ahead - fast page turns, super-fast downloads, much less cluttered interface, good battery life, and better power button location. Clearly, a 4-year-old Kindle (even a Paperwhite) is not a fair comparison, but given the unattractive color options for the currently available Paperwhite (the new models have just been released - metalic finish likely to scratch easily) I thought the time was right to experiment, and I have no regrets what-so-ever. I like the light-weight and the much lower cost (129 USD v.s. 200 USD for a Paperwhite) This weighs significantly less than my 2020 Paperwhite and has the same display size. The only thing this lacks is the inability to access Amazon ebooks, but given that almost all publishers set their selling prices, you can get the same books from Kobo at the same prices (except those published by Amazon) No issues with library connection, no issues with side-loading books from my library (expect for those I bought from Amazon), and a much cleaner user interface. If you have a massive Amazon ebook library, this may not be the best option for you. Some publishers do specify no DRM, which allows you to read on whatever device you prefer rather than being locked into the seller's system) but if you borrow from the library regularly or obtain ebooks from a variety to sellers and not just Amazon, this is worth a try. It's like a standard Kindle with much better features at the same price. I'm considering replacing my 2020 Paperwhite with a standard Kindle, since those at least come in a color that I would not be embarrassed to use in public, but only because the speed and weight of this reader are so much better that it makes me sad to go back to the old Paperwhite to read books that are locked into Amazon's system.

I love the matte viewing screen, and the screen tints, font size, and other features are perfect for my needs. I can read more books—even while lying down—without fumbling through physical pages. However, typing to search for books in the Kobo store is somewhat slow. It's actually easier to use my phone to browse and purchase books. I bought a cover with a magnetic lid that automatically puts the screen to sleep when closed and wakes it when opened. The device is compact enough to hold comfortably in one hand, and I can easily swipe through pages with just my thumb. It's a winner!

This is a great ereader. There is one large “problem” with it though. If you attach a strong magnet to the back, such as a mag-safe item, it will not work. I have a small magnet and it still works normally, but anything stronger will make it shut off and on, and the reader becomes unusable. And that is through a protective case. Otherwise, it functions smoothly, battery life is good, has no ads, and accepts books other than a certain company’s. I was going to buy that other company’s machine, but the limitations imposed in order to lock the customer to its own store, as well as the ads, were a no-go. I haven’t used the kobo store yet, but it’s a large bookstore in Korea, similar to B&N, and my browsing hasn’t turned up inadequacies in English. It does have a store interface on the reader but it is not intrusive. Calibre interacts perfectly with it. I’ve been very pleased with the purchase.

I was skeptical at first when it came to reading books off an e-reader. I love the feel of having a physical book in hand and turning pages but reading off these books is amazing. The ability to change light settings and brightness is great for reading at night. As you can tell from the video, it’s quick and responsive when it comes to turning pages or going to the menu or switching settings. The weight of the device itself is pretty light. The plastic it is constructed from feels sturdy. At first it felt and looked cheap but I’ve dropped it once from 3ft and it did not get a single scuff. It is waterproof since I’ve taken it into a pool and got zero damage. The screen itself also feels sturdy. Battery life itself has proven to last quite some time. I charge it almost every two weeks and I do heavy reading on it (3-4hrs a day). I did play with the settings a bit on separate occasions, once the battery only lasted barely a week and a half and the other time it went over 2 weeks. The device itself has never overheated and I don’t see why it should. Storage space wise. There is no way I will ever fill up 32gb worth of books. I currently have 8 books loaded up on it and they’re all 5-20mb in size, with another 7 loaded up to be transferred. When it comes to loading books onto the device, you can easily plug it into a computer via the usb-c cable it comes with. Open up the device folder and drag and drop right into it. Once you’ve safely removed the device from the computer, your device will load and it will show your new books. I haven’t bought or tried out anything from the built in store, not sure how it works but looks like you can download an app on your phone, but the books there and then they will download to your device. TLDR: it’s better than a kindle in my opinion. Spend your money on this model and sideload books by drag and drop. Where you get your ebooks is none of my business but there are places where they are free…

- The device freezes all the time when doing anything other than reading. (Opening settings menu, turning on wifi, interacting with the store or Overdrive) - Unless you click Borrow from the Kobo itself, new library ebooks don't sync to my device - When a book on hold in Overdrive is ready, after syncing on the Kobo it still says 2 weeks left on hold, and the book can't be borrowed. Then i click borrow on my phone/computer, see the book in Overdrive, go to Kobo, sync, book doesn't show up. - I don't mind the speed of the eink when actually reading, so readability is good; however, the device doesn't seem powerful enough to handle the basic admin tasks to make it usable. - Brightness is fine. Size is ok. Overall I wish i had stuck with Kindle, but it's too late for me to return this Kobo...Overpriced and not functional. Maybe a software update will fix it, but I'm not that hopeful.

I wasn't sure about this product, and refrained from purchasing one for years. I didn't want another device to keep up with and I certainly didn't want more drawer clutter. That said, I took the plunge this Christmas(2025), and have been very pleasantly surprised. I love this device. It is genuinely closer to a book than a phone or tablet. I haven't put it down in days, and I've only charged it once. I highly recommend it. I chose this particular brand and model to avoid the Amazon ecosystem, algorithms, and online-centric design. The screen is very crisp and clear, with good contrast, and the design of the screen is really interesting. It is more similar to a phase state glass pane than a traditional screen, containing actual ink analogue hat holds a physical condition determined by electrical signals. Basically, it takes no energy to keep the screen on because the screen is a physical state. Like an etch-a-sketch that constructs it's picture automatically. I've uploaded some pictures to show it's size and a comparison between it's screen and actual paper.

I LOVE this as an alternative to the kindle. The interface is SO much better, in my opinion. You can make the home page quieter/more minimalist, which I LOVE. I had an ANCIENT kindle (the one that has a keyboard and page flip buttons) that I liked. No ads, no bloat, no content being pushed. I was reluctant to get a newer kindle because of all the junk they put on the home page that you can’t turn off. I didn’t like the lack of control a user has over their overall reading and navigating experience. I primarily use my eReader to get library books and that works pretty seamlessly. I can also get ePUB books and transfer them easily with a cable if I want to. I like that the on button is ergonomically placed on the back instead of the awkward spot on the kindle. The size is perfect, it’s not too heavy, it has tons of space. I’m so glad I made the switch. No regrets!

This is my 3rd Kobo. First I've bought from a second party seller. I was happy with how easy it was to get set up. Although I did have to contact Kobo directly because my account didn't transfer properly. Everything is set up now. I love how fast it is AND the fact that I can put it into dark mode! Much better on the eyes.